Art+Theft

Link to The FBI's Task Force on Art Theft http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/arttheft/arttheft.htm Ancient Theft

Egypt was the hot spot for looting and grave robbing in the millennia BC. As Pharaohs would pass on they would build elaborate tombs to carry their belongings and treasures with them to the afterlife. This would normally include massive amounts of gold and precious stones. Grave-robbers caught on to this and would rob the grave of all its treasures. As Pharaohs became wise to this practice their tombs would become more elaborate, sometimes having decoys and booby-traps. Even with these preventions. cunning tomb-raiders ahve ransacked ny of the tombs before they could be properly excavated.



Modern Day Looting

A problem that still persists in places like Eygpt, Iraq, Isreal, etc., is the illegal excavation of artifacts. Numerous times it is by local people looking to make quick cash. As they do this they generally damage or destroy important artifacts and information. Another issue is when privateers go looking for antiquities for profit. They generally work without any permission from the governing agency in that country. They take their goods and trade them on the black market to enthusiasts looking for rare pieces. media type="youtube" key="sOsOe-dfgpE" height="344" width="425"